Past Modals Review

Degrees of Certainty
Question: Why wasn’t Kate in class?
Degree Example sentence Comment
She was ill. The speaker is sure.
%95 The speaker is making a logical conclusion.
“I saw Kate yesterday and found out that
she was ill. She was absent today. She is
probably ill now. I can’t think of any other
good reason.
Less She may have been ill.
than %50 She might have been ill.
She could have been ill.

Question: Why didn’t Tom eat?

Degree Example sentence
%100
%99 He couldn’t have been hungry.
He can’t have been hungry.
%95 He must not have been hungry.
He may not have been hungry.
He might not have been hungry.
Comment
The speaker is sure.
The speaker believes that it is
impossible for Tom to have been hungry.
The speaker is mentioning one
possibility.

For certainty: For possibility:

True: ………………………..+ V3 True: ………………………………..+ V3
Not True: ………………………….+ V3 Not True: ………………………….. + V3

Examples:
George is making a journey across the USA by car from New york to San
Francisco.

Sentence Meaning

George must have arrived in San Francisco by now. ……………………………

He can’t /couldn’t have got there yet because it will
take at least two weeks. ……………………………
He might / may / could have stopped for a few days
on the way. …………………………….
He might / may not have had time to do everything
he wanted. …………………………….

TEACHER’S NOTES
Past Modals Review
Degrees of Certainty
Question: Why wasn’t Kate in class?
Degree Example sentence Comment
%100 She was ill. The speaker is sure.
%95 She must have been ill. The speaker is making a logical conclusion.
“I saw Kate yesterday and found out that
she was ill. She was absent today. She is
probably ill now. I can’t think of any other
 good reason.
Less She may have been ill. The speaker is mentioning one possibility.
than %50 She might have been ill.
She could have been ill.

Question: Why didn’t Tom eat?

Degree Example sentence Comment
%100 He wasn’t hungry. The speaker is sure.
%99 He couldn’t have been hungry. The speaker believes that it is
He can’t have been hungry. impossible for Tom to have been hungry.
%95 He must not have been hungry. The speaker is making a logical
conclusion.
Less He may not have been hungry. The speaker is mentioning one
than %50 He might not have been hungry. possibility.

For certainty: For possibility:

True: must have + V3 True: might/may/could have + V3
Not True: can’t have/couldn’t have + V3 Not True: might not / may not have + V3

Examples:
George is making a journey across the USA by car from New york to San
Francisco.

Sentence Meaning

George must have arrived in San Francisco by now. I am certain he has arrived in the USA.
He can’t /couldn’t have got there yet because it will I am certain he hasn’t got there.
take at least two weeks.
He might / may / could have stopped for a few days It is possible to stop.
on the way.
He might / may not have had time to do everything It is possible he didn’t.
he wanted.